Automobile signal lamp



Aug; 11;,219321'. l E A. LAURENT 11.818485? l AUTQM'OBILB ,SIGNAL LAM? Filed Feb. 14. 1928` shuts-snaai 2 INVENTOR.v 5-

Lddrgn a signal lamp Patented Aug. 11, 1931 EMILE A. LAURENT, 0F DENVER, coLRAno AUToMonILE SIGNAL LAMB Appucauma mea February( 14,-1a2sf serial No'. 254,264.

My invention relates to signal lamps for motor-driven vehicles and its main object is to provide a klamp of this kind which .in a simple though Ahighly effective manner,

n 1 will designate the direction in which a vehicle to which it is .applied is to be turned. Another object is to provide asignal Vlamp which may .be readilyv converted for use at either the front end or rear end of an automobile. A furtherl object isto provide in connection with the lamp, :if used at. the rear end of the vehicle, a stop-signal and means to illuminate a license plate.

further object of the invention is to provide of the above stated characteristics, which shall be highly ornamental and which in practise, functions aty night, asa lsafety device in straightway driving as well as when changing direction, `fandfstill other objects reside iny details of construction and a novel arrangement of parts as will fully appear `in the course of the following de`` scription.`

VAn embodiment of the invention Jhas been L illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in the severalpviews of which like parts are similarly designated vand in which,

Figure l represents an elevation of thel signal lamp as adapted for use at the front .A end of a vehicle;

Figure 2 a vertical section along the line 2 2 Figure 1; Figure 3 a section vtaken on ,the line 3;-3 Figure 2; i j Figure 4, a horizontal section in the plane indicated by the line 4,4 in Figurel;

Figure 5, an elevation of the lamp converted for use as a stop-light and a license plate illuminator as well as a directionpindicator at the vrear end of Va vehicle;

Figure 6 a section taken on the line 6-6 Figure 5; Y

Figure "1'v adiagrammatic view of the circuits employed in the operation of a lamp of the type shown in Figures 5 and 6;"and, Figure 8 a similar view'of the circuit used in operating the direction indicating lamp illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.

vReferring, first of all to Figures 1 to 4,

the signal -lamp illustrated ,therein comprises `a base or otherymeans for itsV attachment tol the filler neck ofthe radiatorat the 4front of a motor vehicle, and a top part 7 removably fastenedupon the base part `by means of ascrew 8. f

The two parts `are vpreferably ymad-e of metal, stamped or otherwise formed in the required shape., -or they maybe composed of wood` or fiberor any other material asV may be found 'most suitable for the purpose.-The base Vpart of the device has a bottom chamber 9, and above the same three upright cylinders 10 which are open at the upper surface ofthe part.: Sockets 12 for the application of incandescent flight globes 13, fastened upon the bottom chamber of the base part extend loosely in the three cylinders,` andthe wires of the globes inserted inthe sockets, `projected through v apertures zat the lowerends of they cylinders yinto the chamber 9 as shown in Figure 3.

The globes are held inV place by studs 14` sliding in bayonet-slots of the.V respective sockets. f

The top part of the signal lamp comprises a hollow lcasi-ng having a central compartment 15 Aand end compartments 16 and 17, divided by partitions 18. The v,three compartments have bottom openings to receive theglobes in the sockets of thelower part of the lamp and the central compartment has'a sleeve l1,9 which when Vthe two parts are assembled, one upon the other, extendsgin the space between the central cylinder of the lower part .and the respective socket. The

part 5 provided with a ylug 6y l sleeve has an aperture to receive the endn portion" of the before-mentioned screw 8 vwhich'projects through a 'correspondingly threaded opening of the base. TheV two compartments are axially in horizontal alinement and the outer compartments exceed at their lpolntsrof greatest area, the corresponding dimensions of the center compartment, to better divide the light beams emitted from the compartments as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The central compartment has in its top an opening 20 and in its front and rearsurfaces, openings 21 and 22, the partitions between the compartments have openings 23 and the outer compartments have in the converging front and rear faces of their outer pyramidal portions, openings 24 and at the outer ends or apexes of said portions small openings 25. All of the above mentioned openings are covered by glass, preferably colored, and the colors may be varied according to different requirements. The front glass of the middle compartment may, for example, be red, the rear glass of the same compartment, green, the glass covering the opening in the top of. the compartn ment can be green or red and the glass in the partitions between the compartments, green. y

The glasses covering the openings 24 in the converging sides ot the outer compartments of the lamp maybe the same in both compartments, white being preferred, or they maybe differently colored, as. for eX- ample, red and green to better indicate the direction in which the vehicle to which the lamp is applied, is about to turn. The glasses closing the end openings 25 of the compartments 16 are preferably red.

In the operation of the signal lamp, the center globe is lit constantly as a warning of approach to pedestrians or vehicles travelling in opposite direction, the front opening emltting a forwardly directed light beam and the top-opening an upwardly directed beam. The rear-opening 22 is of advantage to theoccupants of the vehicle in. illuminating the front portion of the vehicle and in indicating that the signal lamp is in operative condition. The openings 23 in the partitions between the compartments, transmit under the same conditions, a diffused glow to the outer compartments which may be dimly seen through the openings in the sides vand ends of the compartments.

The illumination of the lamp by means of the central globe moreover, is highly ornamental and decorative, particularly at night; When it is desired to turn the vehicle to either the right or the lett, warning is Ygiven by the selective incandescence of the globes in the end-compartments, it being apparent that illumination ofthe right hand compartment will comprehensively indicate that the driver of the vehicle intends to turn to the right, while illumination of the lett compartment will show an intended movement in the opposite direction.

The peculiar shape of the end-compartments is of particular value in the direction indicating function of the device, because the openings in the converging sides and ends of these compartments permit of the signal being observed with equal distinctness to those approaching the vehicle, those following the vehicle and those at a side of the same. Because of the fact that the outer compartments of the lamp are greater .in cross-section from top to bottom relative to the middle compartment, that is, a greater vertical area than that of the middle compartment, confusion is prevented between the light-beams emitted from the center compartments and those passing through the openings of either end-compartment.

In order to lengthen the usefulness of the incandescent globes they are cooled by the circulation oi' air admitted to the casings through apertures 26 and passing through the spaces between the sockets of the globes and the respective cylinders of the base portion` of the lamp. The openings 2G are formed laterally in the inner portions of the endcompartments so that they are cov ered against the emission of forwardly directed light beams which might detract from the eectiveness of the device. rl`he front glass 27 of the lamp, preferably made in the form of' a lens, may have a marginal portion of reilective material, as indicated at in Figure Ll, to produce a glow by reflection of light from headlight-s ot approaching vehicles in case the signal lamp is in an inopeative condition or the center globe is broken or burnt out.

The signal lamp is connected in a rcircuit with the batteryT of the vehicle as shown in Figure 8 in which 29 indicates the source of electricity, 30 the circuit of the center lamp, controlled by a switch 3l, `^2the circuit o the right hand lamp, controlled by a switch 3S, and 34 the circuit ot the left hand lamp, controlled by a switch The switch El ofthe circuit is constantly closed in the operation of the lamp as stated hereinbeitore, and the switches of the circuits of `he end lamps are preferably placed on the steering wheel of the vehicle to be within easy reach of the driver.

The topand the rear sidewall ot the middle section of the lamp may be separate and removably attached to the casing for the purpose of converting the lamp to one adapted for use at the rear end of the vehicle. The lamp thus converted. has been illustrated in` Figures 5 and G. 'lhe top-wall of the lamp is replaced by a hollow top 36 of ornamental form, containing a lampsoclret 37, and an incandescent lamp 38 in the socket,v and `having in its Jfront face. a glassecovered opening 39 and at its apex a smaller glass-covered opening lO. The rear wall of the lamp is replaced by a flanged cover 4l having a lower wall provided with a glass-covered opening l2 to illuminate a license plate below the place at whichthe lamp is installed.

The rear wall of the cover has a glasscover'ed opening'll which performs a function equivalent to that of the opening 22 of the lamp of the yfirst described constriice tion. ln the operation of a lamp of the modified construction illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the glass-covered opening 2l iunctions as a tail signal, the opening 39 as a stop signal, and the openings 24 in the converging sides of the end-sections of the lamp as direction-indicators as before. The circuits of the lamp vhave-been illustrated in Figure 7 in which the circuit ifi of the stop lamp 3S, is controlled 'bya switch 45 which is closed by the movement of the pedal 4&6 of the brake-system of the vehicle when the brakes are being set.

Having thus described my signal lamp, I desire it understood that modifications and changes in construction, form and arrangements of parts Vmay be `resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the `following claims.

lVliat I claim and desire to secure ters Patent is: Y

1. A signal lamp for motorvehicles, comprising a casing having a middle compartment provided with a glass covered opening, side compartments having converging front and rear walls, a glass covered opening in each of said titions separating means to mount a compartment. Y

2. A'signal lamp for motor vehicles, comprising a casing having a middle compart ment provided with a glass covered opening, side compartments having converging sides provided with glass covered openings, partitions separating the compartments and having glass covered openings, and means to mount lamps in the compartments.

3. A signal lamp for motor vehicles, comprising a casing having a middle compart-v ment, provided with a glass covered opening and side compartments each provided with a glass covered opening, partitions separating the compartmentsv and having glass covered openings, and means to mount lamps in the compartments.

4. A signal lamp for motor vehicles,fcom prising a casinghaving a Vplurality of compartments provided with glass `covered openings inthe front and vrear'walls thereof, partitions between the compartments having glass covered openings, and means to mount lamps in the compartments. j

5. A signal. lamp for motor vehicles, coinprising a middle compartment and side compartments ron .either side of the compartment, having glass covered'openings, visible along a line of travel of the vehicle, light by Letlthe compartments, and lamp in said middle 4partments, on either' side,

walls, light pervious pary f comprising Va casing pervioiis partitions-between the compartments and aV lamp in each compartment.

6. A signal lamp for motor vehicles, com-y prising a middle compartment and side comthe compartments having glass covered openings, ous `partitions between the compartments, a lamp inleachl compartment, and lmeans toV colorf the light iromthe middle compart? ment during transmission thereof to the side compartments, whereby said lightcausesthe side compartmentsto sheda light that when the lamps of the side compartments are not' lit isdifferently coloredfrom that shed Yby the side compartments when the'lamps in the side compartments are lit. 1 V i 7. Asignal lamp for motor vehicles comprising a middle compartment and side compartments on either side, having glass covered openings, lightpervions partitions between the compartments, a lamp in each compartment, and glass in the lcompartment openings of a different color from that of the ,lightV pervious portions of the partitions, whereby a light in `the middle compartment causes the side compartments to` shed a light that when the lamps of the side compartments: are not lit, is differently colored` compartments when lthe lamps in the side compartments are lit. I y Y v8.l A signal `lampfor motor vehicles comprising a middle compartment and side compartmeiits'on either side, the compartments having glasscovered openings visible along a line ofl travel of thevehicle, light pervious partitions between they compartments, said partitions being formed of a materiali colored differently from that of the glass'in said openings, and a 'lamp in each compartment. i

9. A signal lampior motorvehicles, comprising a casing'having a middle .compartment provided with aglass covered opening, side compartments Vof truncated, tetr'agonal bipyramidal form havingf glassV covered openings in `their converging walls,and means to :mount a lamp in the middle compartment f vILO. AV signal lamp for motory vehicles, vhaving `a middle compartment provided with a. glass covered opening, side compartments of truncated ftetragonal bipyramidal form having glass covered openings lin their converging vouter sides, and means to kmountlamps in the compartments, said sidecompartments having `a maximum yvertical area larger than .the maX- light pervi- Y,

fromtliat shed by the side b5 front and Yrear imum vertical area of themiddle compartment. f s f 11. A signal lamp for motor vehicles, comprising a lamp casing having'a center and side compartments, glass covered openings'in said compartments, a lamp'in each of said compartments, a removable top por- 4 Leiaesv'` tion for one compartment, and a signal lamp unit interchangeable with said top portion.

l2. A signal lamp for motor vehicles, comprising a lamp casing having. a plurality of compartments, glass covered openings for each compartment, a lamp in each compartment, said casing having a removably attached top portion, a second signal lamp unit interchangeable with said top, whereby said lamp may be converted from a lamp casing usable at the front of thel vehicle to a lamp casing usable at the rear.

131 A signal lamp for motor vehicles, comprising a lamp casing having center and side compartments. glass covered openings in said compartments, a lamp in each of said compartments, a removable back Wall portion for one compartment, and a signal lamp unit 4including a rear Wall portion interchangeable with said removable back Wallv portion.

14. A signal lamp for motor vehicles, comprising a lamp casing having center and side compartments, glass covered openings in said compartments, a lamp in each oi said compartments, a removable top portion and back Wall portion for one compartment, and a signal lamp unit including a rear Wall portion, interchangeable with said top portion and back Wall portion.

15. A signal lamp for 4motor vehicles, comprising a base section having a projecting cylinder, a lamp socket in the cylinder spaced Vfrom the inner surface thereof, an upper section supported on the base section, comprising a plurality of signal compart ments, a sleeve on the upper section between the socket and the cylinder, said sleeve and cylinder having registering apertures and screw means in the apertures holding the sections iirmly together, said upper section with its compartments being removable from the base section, as a unit.

16. A signal lamp for motor vehicles, comprising a hollow casing having a central compartment and side compartments, and a base section having lamp sockets for each of said compartments and a projecting cylinder concentric with one of said sockets, said compartments having bottom openings to receive the sockets of said base section, one of said compartments having a sleeve adapted to telescope with said projecting cylinder, and means to hold said sleeve and cylinder in rigid engagement With each other.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

EMILE A. LAURENT. 

